Biofeedback therapy technique for treatment of urinary incontinence

Feedback or biofeedback to augment pelvic floor muscle training for urinary incontinence in women

BACKGROUND

Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is an effective treatment for stress urinary incontinence in women. Whilst most of the PFMT trials have been done in women with stress urinary incontinence, there is also some trial evidence that PFMT is effective for urgency urinary incontinence and mixed urinary incontinence. Feedback or biofeedback are common adjuncts used along with PFMT to help teach a voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction or to improve training performance.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether feedback or biofeedback adds further benefit to PFMT for women with urinary incontinence.To compare the effectiveness of different forms of feedback or biofeedback.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Group Specialised Trials Register (searched 13 May 2010) and the reference lists of relevant articles.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised or quasi-randomised trials in women with stress, urgency or mixed urinary incontinence (based on symptoms, signs or urodynamics). At least two arms of the trials included PFMT. In addition, at least one arm included verbal feedback or device-mediated biofeedback.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Trials were independently assessed for eligibility and risk of bias. Data were extracted by two reviewers and cross-checked. Disagreements were resolved by discussion or the opinion of a third reviewer. Data analysis was conducted in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention (version 5.1.0). Analysis within subgroups was based on whether there was a difference in PFMT between the two arms that had been compared.

MAIN RESULTS

Twenty four trials involving 1583 women met the inclusion criteria; 17 trials contributed data to analysis for one of the primary outcomes. All trials contributed data to one or more of the secondary outcomes. Women who received biofeedback were significantly more likely to report that their urinary incontinence was cured or improved compared to those who received PFMT alone (risk ratio 0.75 , 95% confidence interval 0.66 to 0.86). However, it was common for women in the biofeedback arms to have more contact with the health professional than those in the non-biofeedback arms. Many trials were at moderate to high risk of bias, based on trial reports. There was much variety in the regimens proposed for adding feedback or biofeedback to PFMT alone, and it was often not clear what the actual intervention comprised or what the purpose of the intervention was.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Feedback or biofeedback may provide benefit in addition to pelvic floor muscle training in women with urinary incontinence. However, further research is needed to differentiate whether it is the feedback or biofeedback that causes the beneficial effect or some other difference between the trial arms (such as more contact with health professionals).

Successful treatment for giggle incontinence with biofeedback

PURPOSE

Giggle incontinence is the involuntary and often unpredictable loss of urine during giggling or laughter in the absence of other stress incontinence. The pathophysiology is unclear, urodynamics are seldom helpful, and the efficacy of timed voiding and pharmacotherapy is limited. We postulated that improving sphincter tone and muscle recruitment using biofeedback techniques might be helpful in children with giggle incontinence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The charts of 12 patients with giggle incontinence were reviewed. Giggle incontinence severity, voiding patterns, associated symptoms and medical history including prior treatment were reviewed. Children were evaluated with uroflowmetry-electromyography and ultrasound measurement of post-void residual urine. They were assessed by the ability to isolate, contract and relax perineal muscles. They were taught Kegel exercises and instructed to perform them at home between weekly-biweekly sessions. Clinical success was characterized as a full or partial response, or nonresponse as defined by the International Children's Continence Society.

RESULTS

The 10 females and 2 males were 6 to 15 years old. Only 1 child had a partial response to first line therapy with timed voiding and bowel management. Seven children were treated with anticholinergic agents and/or pseudoephedrine with a partial response in 3. The 9 children with refractory giggle incontinence underwent biofeedback with a median of 4.5 sessions per child (range 2 to 8). The 6 patients who underwent 4 or more sessions had a full response that endured for at least 6 months and the 3 with fewer than 4 sessions had a partial response.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with giggle incontinence can heighten external urinary sphincter awareness and muscle recruitment using biofeedback techniques. Treatment with education and pharmacotherapy only led to a partial response in some cases. Biofeedback supplemented this treatment or avoided pharmacotherapy when at least 4 sessions were performed. Biofeedback therapy should be incorporated in the treatment algorithm for giggle incontinence in children and it should be considered before pharmacotherapy.

Protocol- and therapist-related variables affecting outcomes of behavioral interventions for urinary and fecal incontinence

Biofeedback techniques used to treat urinary and fecal incontinence lack standardization. Most early protocols used a pressure device placed within the vagina or anal canal, or electromyographic (EMG) sensors in the same locations, to measure the external anal sphincter (EAS) or pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contractile function, and most early studies provided feedback from a single physiological transducer. The goal was to improve bowel and bladder control by improving EAS or PFM contractile function. Protocols that have resulted in the most consistent reductions in urinary incontinent episodes used 2 or more channels of physiological information to reinforce stable abdominal and bladder pressures concurrently with PFM contraction. For fecal incontinence, more significant treatment results were derived when protocols measured (1) patient perception of sensory cues associated with rectal distention and potential loss of stool, (2) short-latency EAS contraction when perceiving rectal distention, (3) inhibition of (extraneous muscle) activity that would increase intra-abdominal pressure during EAS contraction, and (4) reinforcement of sustained (up to 30 seconds) contractions rather than only brief 1- to 2-second contractions. Limited data support the use of surface abdominal EMG measures as indices of extraneous muscle activity associated with increased intra-abdominal pressure and anal or vaginal EMG probes to obtain measures of PFM function. Better results may also be obtained when there are at least 4 training sessions, when daily home exercises are prescribed, and when the therapist is well trained and experienced. These inferences are based for the most part on indirect evidence, and more studies are needed that compare different treatment protocols.

A new operation for genitourinary prolapse

PURPOSE

A new method to support female prolapsed pelvic organs is presented, which involves use of nonabsorbable mesh cut in a hammock shape. The approach is transvaginal and the novelties are the way in which the mesh is anchored and its considerable size.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The mesh is anchored transversally between the 2 arcus tendineus of the endopelvic fascia and in the anteroposterior direction between the bladder and uterine necks. The anteroposterior dimension of the mesh must completely cover the cystocele. From January 1996 to June 1997 this technique was used in 44 patients ranging in age from 43 to 86 years. The patients presented with various degrees of incontinence and combinations of cystocele, uterine or vaginal vault prolapse, rectocele and/or enterocele. Cystocele and incontinence were classified according to the SEAPI QMM scales and the other anatomical defects according to the Beecham classification. Preoperative analysis of all patients included cystography, video urodynamics, and pelvic and abdominal echography.

RESULTS

All patients affected by some degree of incontinence were cured. Patients with prolapse without incontinence were completely satisfied with the operation. Uterine prolapse was third degree in 6 of 20 patients and it partially recurred in 3. Cystography in all patients demonstrated excellent repair of the descensus. Sexual life and menses did not change, and no pelvic fibrosis or hydroureteronephrosis occurred. Followup ranges from 9 to 23 months (median 13.9).

CONCLUSIONS

This technique has broad application and is simple to perform. Longer followup will prove its merits definitively.

A new operation for genitourinary prolapse

PURPOSE

A new method to support female prolapsed pelvic organs is presented, which involves use of nonabsorbable mesh cut in a hammock shape. The approach is transvaginal and the novelties are the way in which the mesh is anchored and its considerable size.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The mesh is anchored transversally between the 2 arcus tendineus of the endopelvic fascia and in the anteroposterior direction between the bladder and uterine necks. The anteroposterior dimension of the mesh must completely cover the cystocele. From January 1996 to June 1997 this technique was used in 44 patients ranging in age from 43 to 86 years. The patients presented with various degrees of incontinence and combinations of cystocele, uterine or vaginal vault prolapse, rectocele and/or enterocele. Cystocele and incontinence were classified according to the SEAPI QMM scales and the other anatomical defects according to the Beecham classification. Preoperative analysis of all patients included cystography, video urodynamics, and pelvic and abdominal echography.

RESULTS

All patients affected by some degree of incontinence were cured. Patients with prolapse without incontinence were completely satisfied with the operation. Uterine prolapse was third degree in 6 of 20 patients and it partially recurred in 3. Cystography in all patients demonstrated excellent repair of the descensus. Sexual life and menses did not change, and no pelvic fibrosis or hydroureteronephrosis occurred. Followup ranges from 9 to 23 months (median 13.9).

CONCLUSIONS

This technique has broad application and is simple to perform. Longer followup will prove its merits definitively.

Conservative treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of physical therapies for first-line use in the treatment and prevention of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women, using a systematic review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A computer-aided and manual search for published RCTs investigating treatment and prevention of SUI using physical therapies, e.g. pelvic floor muscle (PFM) exercises, with or without other treatment modalities, were carried out. The methodological quality of the included trials was assessed using criteria based on generally accepted principles of interventional research.

RESULTS

Twenty-four RCTs (22 treatment and two prevention) were identified; the methodological quality of the studies included was moderate and 11 RCTs were of sufficient quality to be included in further analysis. Based on levels-of-evidence criteria, there is strong evidence to suggest that PFM exercises are effective in reducing the symptoms of SUI. There is limited evidence for the efficacy of high-intensity vs a low-intensity regimen of PFM exercises. Despite significant effects of biofeedback after testing as an adjunct to PFM exercises, there is no evidence that PFM exercises with biofeedback are more effective than PFM exercises alone. There is little consistency (of stimulation types and parameters) in the studies of electrical stimulation, but when the results are combined there is strong evidence to suggest that electrostimulation is superior to sham electrostimulation, and limited evidence that there is no difference between electrostimulation and other physical therapies. In the prevention of SUI the efficacy of PFM exercises, with or without other adjuncts, is uncertain.

Outpatient pelvic-floor therapy in girls with daytime incontinence and dysfunctional voiding

OBJECTIVES

Analysis of an experience in treating girls with dysfunctional voiding with an outpatient pelvic-floor therapy consisting of voiding and drinking schedule, pelvic-floor relaxation biofeedback, instructions on toilet behavior, and uroflowmetry.

METHODS

The files of 50 girls (between 6 and 13 years of age) with urodynamically proven dysfunctional voiding who participated in the training program were analyzed retrospectively. Thirty-five girls received anticholinergics during the entire course of the training. The long-term absence of diurnal incontinence was used as the criterion for the success of the therapy. The duration of treatment before reaching this success was used as a parameter to measure the intensity of therapy. For a portion of the study group, a comparison is made with the duration of the preceding therapies to demonstrate indirectly the cumulative effect of the pelvic-floor therapy.

RESULTS

Forty-six girls (92%) normalized their flow and bladder capacity after therapy and saw their daytime incontinence disappearing. All of these girls achieved this result in a maximum of 18 sessions within a 6-month period. At the follow-up examination after 6 months, five of the girls had relapsed (10%), which brings the ultimate success after 6 months of follow-up to 82%.

CONCLUSIONS

Pelvic-floor therapy seems to be a reasonable and meaningful component in the treatment of bladder dysfunction in which detrusor-sphincter dyscoordination plays a role.

Ethical and practice considerations for biofeedback therapists in the treatment of urinary incontinence

The treatment of incontinence presents many unique issues for biofeedback therapists that are routine for professionals in fields such as nursing or medicine. Although all professional practice is guided by ethical standards, the unique circumstances encountered during biofeedback treatments for this disorder warrant the development of specific guidelines. This is true whether insertable or surface EMG devices are used. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to propose a set of ethical guidelines for biofeedback therapists. The intended audience includes professionals such as psychologists, clinical psychophysiologists, and other mental health-care providers who use biofeedback techniques. These are not formally endorsed by any professional organizations (e.g., APA, AAPB) at this time. Ethical considerations include proper medical evaluation, informed consent, patient instruction, disrobing, nonerotic physical contact, patient safety, and patient satisfaction.

A new treatment for premature ejaculation: the rehabilitation of the pelvic floor

This study evaluated pelvic floor rehabilitation as a possible treatment for premature ejaculation. In this treatment it is assumed that the pelvic muscles are involved in the control of the ejaculatory reflex. The treatment avails itself of a method already used for fecal and urinary incontinence. Eighteen patients with premature ejaculation were recruited. Fifteen (83%) of them had suffered from this disturbance for at least five years. Most of them had experienced other therapies without success. After 15-20 sessions of pelvic floor rehabilitation, 11 (61%) patients were cured and are able to control the ejaculatory reflex; seven (39%) patients had no improvement. All patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 14 months. This therapy is easy to perform, has no side effects, and can be included among the therapuetic options for patients with premature ejaculation.

Biofeedback for the treatment of stress and urge incontinence

Biofeedback and pelvic floor electrical stimulation are new modalities that have been advocated for the treatment of urinary incontinence. To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of biofeedback and identify factors predictive of a positive outcome, we prospectively studied 28 patients with stress and urge incontinence. All patients were evaluated with a complete history, physical examination, urinalysis and culture. Of 28 patients 21 were also studied with video urodynamics. Biofeedback was performed with the InCare PRS 8900* machine with each patient undergoing at least 6 office sessions. Quantifiable symptoms, such as frequency, nocturia and urgency, were evaluated before and periodically after treatment. Patients also graded the overall treatment response on a scale of 0 to 3. Biofeedback successfully treated 5 of 14 patients (36%) with stress incontinence and 9 of 21 (43%) with urgency incontinence. Treatment response was durable throughout followup in all responding patients. Additionally, there was a statistically significant decrease in daytime frequency and nocturia following biofeedback (p = 0.038 and p = 0.044, respectively). No pretreatment factors predictive of a positive outcome could be identified. Improvement in perineal muscle tone with time approached statistical significance. We conclude that biofeedback is a moderately effective treatment for stress and urge incontinence, and should be offered to patients as a treatment option. Few patients, however, choose biofeedback as a primary mode of therapy and, due to the availability of other highly successful treatments for stress urinary incontinence, it is unlikely to become a popular treatment option.